Elizabeth Krause

9/1/2026

It has been about two months since having my baby. When looking back and thinking about our birth story I am filled with gratitude for Danielle. Labor was much more intense than I was anticipating and I was trying for a VBAC. Danielle was a consistent calming presence. She was there to encourage me and support me. I hear her voice ensuring me that I could do this and was infact doing it, when I kept saying that I couldn't. I labored for about 30 hours in the hospital and in the end had to make decisions that I had hoped I wouldn't. Danielle was there to provide insight, remind me of my desires, and to comfort me when things didn't go as I had planned. I ultimately had another C-Section and while in the OR it had become emergent. I, however, didn't know that at the time. Danielle, was always by my side, whispering words of encouragement, having her hand on my shoulder so I could feel her presence. She was able to tell me about my baby and help me recognize her cry. When my baby left with my husband for the NICU, Danielle stayed with me. I was never alone, I never felt alone, I was able to tap into Danielle's calm and peaceful presence when I felt scared, which calmed me. When baby and I were able to come home Danielle reached out to setup time for me to talk with her about the birth. She came to my home and let me talk about my experience. So often the feeling of shame kept creeping in because things didn't go as I had planned and I chose to do different things in the moment. However, after talking with her, I was given insight about my experience that helped me let go of any lingering shameful thoughts. After that day I was able to stop fighting feelings of shame because they were gone. I was left with peace and the understanding that I have a healthy baby, I was healing well, and our birth was beautiful even with the difficulties we faced. I am forever grateful that Danielle was with me during the hardest moment of my life to date.